Another topic about interference...

Question
QUESTION: Last night I went over to the ball fields to watch a couple games (Men's ASA SP) to see if I could pick up some things from the fellow umps. Remember I will be starting my first game in 2 weeks, so I'm trying to learn as much as possible.

Anyway, here's a good one that happened to end the game... Bottom of 7, Home teams at bat, down about 6 runs, 2 outs, R1 on second, R2 on 1st. B-R hits a hard grounder to the left of the pitcher, R1 had no choice but to jump (after leaving the bag), and the ball hit him in the inside of his right shoe. The SS yells "he's out" causing both R1 and and R2 to stop running, SS picks up the ball, tags 2nd, 3 outs. Home team seemed to be fine with the call and all was fine... I asked blue, who is a pretty respected umpire at the fields I attend, what was the call? Interference? Obstruction? He said no call, it was a live ball, the runners stopped running so he was out at 2nd. So I asked him "what about SS hindering the runner" and also "what if there was only 1 out, would there have been an interference call" and the blue said "we're not professionals here"... It's hard to know what the blue was thinking or why he made that call, but do you have any insight? Was it possibly because the SS could still play the ball after it hit the runner? The ball did hit the guys shoe and practically fall in front of the SS.

Also, I'm affraid that I'm going to get a little bit too technical. How do I avoid that, or is that a good thing? I can garuntee you no other umpires in our league get online in message boards and things like this for advise. But me, I'm a very technical person, I do tech support for a living by the way, and I tend to be very technical when it comes to just about everything I do. Any advise?

ANSWER: Hi Austin,

This is a very simple play, if a runner is hit by a fair batted ball before it passes an infielder (exc the pitcher) it is interference and the runner is out.

In this case R1 is out as soon as the ball hits his foot...game over.  I'm really surprised the umpire didn't recognize or call the interference.

It's hard to know what the blue was thinking or why he made that call, but do you have any insight?  I haven't a clue because as I mentioned this is about as simple as interference gets.

Also, I'm afraid that I'm going to get a little bit too technical. How do I avoid that, or is that a good thing?  For the most part that's a good thing, our mechanics are technical, our positioning and consistent strike zone is also.  Sometimes the spirit of the rule supercedes the letter of the rule but that will come.

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Maybe he thought the pitcher may have touched the ball with the tip of his glove first, then the ball struck the runner. If so, would that be the right call? What about the SS yelling "he's out", is that legal?  

Answer
Hi Austin,

On a deflected ball we would not have interference unless it was intentional which obviously in this case it wasn't and we would continue to play on.

If the ball was deflected the umpire should be giving a deflected ball signal and a loud safe call and signal when the ball struck R2.  I take it none of that happened.  

The umpire needs to call something, call either dead ball, interference or a safe call on the deflected ball.


F6 I'm not going to get excited about it, he thought there was interference and players are going to say stuff during the game in situations like this.  I don't understand why the runners stopped unless they also thought it was interference, then again the umpire was giving them no direction by a call. I'm not going to call obstruction in this situation.

Mark